The Uptones were motivated to get together by the horrible fires here in California. All of us have friends and family affected directly or indirectly by these disasters, so when Moose floated the idea of a benefit show at Ashkenaz, we pounced. As did our friends in Skank Bank, Matt Jaffe & the Distractions, and The Recyclists. We had a great turnout and a wonderful time and raised $1,780 for the fire relief effort. A huge thanks to everyone who attended or contributed from afar.
We donated the proceeds to the North Bay Fire Relief fund, run by Redwood Credit Union. You can learn about the fund and their efforts at https://www.redwoodcu.org/northbayfirerelief, and you can also donate there. For details about how they are distributing the funds they raise, here’s a direct link to that info. Fire survivors in need of assistance can apply for it there as well.
Ben suggested I deliver the checks in person, so I got in touch with Tracy Mooberry, who works for the group that manages the fund, and drove up to her office in Santa Rosa yesterday, and yes, we took a selfie.
$1,680 from the ticket sales and donations, and another check for $100 that one generous attendee at the event wanted to write directly to the relief fund.
We hope this helps at least in some small ways. Thankfully MANY others have stepped up and donated very generously to this and other organizations who are providing much needed help and relief where it’s needed. I’m also heartened to see how MANY musicians and artists immediately organized fundraising concerts and events. May our communities heal and recover. The love in the air is thicker than smoke.
